Mergers & Acquisitions

Bright Machines intends to go public this year though a merger with SCVX, a a special purpose acquisition company.

American Robotics’ commercial drone system will be integrated into Ondas’ FullMAX platform, a standards-based networking solution designed to enable enhanced data communications for field operations.

Calif.-based Plus is hopping on the SPAC train. The startup, which is developing self-driving truck technology, is being acquired by Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V, a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). If the deal is approved, the combined company will be valued at $3.3 billion and trade on the New York Stock Exchange under…

The Robot Report tracked 38 robotics investments worth more than $4.8 billion in April 2021. This is quite the rebound from the same time last year when, amidst the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, robotics companies raised about $600 million. This marks a 700-plus percent increase in robotics investments year-over-year. There also were eight…

The consolidation of the capital-intensive autonomous vehicle industry continued today. While Lyft is the latest company to abandon the development of autonomous vehicles, it won’t be the last. Lyft sold its self-driving unit, Level 5, to Toyota subsidiary Woven Planet Holdings for $550 million in cash. Lyft will receive $200 million upfront and $350 million…

Brooks Automation has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Precise Automation, a Fremont, Calif.-based developer of collaborative robots and automation subsytems, for about $70 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of April 2021 upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Chelmsford, Mass.-based Brooks Automation said it expects the deal to…

Robin Autopilot USA, a developer of robotic mowing technology, acquired Mowbot, a robotic lawn care franchise with 16 locations throughout the U.S. As part of the acquisition, Robin Autopilot will launch an expanded partnership with Husqvarna Group, which is a major investor in Mowbot and an equity partner of Robin. Mowbot will become known as…

Canadian underwater robotics company Kraken Robotics Inc., announces that it has acquired 13 Robotics Ltda of Brazil in a deal worth $220K.

Vicarious Surgical will go public through a $1.1 billion special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deal, the robotic surgery pioneer announced. Vicarious, which has sought to bring robotics and virtual reality to minimally invasive surgery, will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RBOT after the merger with D8 Holdings. Hong Kong–based D8…

Hitachi acquired Kyoto Robotics, a Japan-based developer of 3D vision systems, control systems and more recently picking robots for the logistics industry. Hitachi acquired 96% of all issued shares of Kyoto Robotics and made it a subsidiary. Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. Hitachi said the acquisition will enable it to provide one-stop shop of…

Root AI, a Somerville, Mass.-based startup developing the Virgo harvesting robot for indoor farms, was acquired by AppHarvest for $60 million. AppHarvest is investing approximately $10 million in cash and the remaining balance in AppHarvest common shares to acquire Root AI. Founded in 2018, Root AI’s 19 full-time employees are expected to join AppHarvest’s technology…

A couple of weeks after a report said a deal was being discussed, Cruise is indeed acquiring autonomous vehicle startup Voyage. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The majority of Voyage’s 60-person team will join GM-backed Cruise. Voyage co-founder and CEO Oliver Cameron will become Cruise’s VP of product. Founded in 2017, Voyage has…

Left Hand Robotics is a Colo.-based developer of lawn mowing and snow plowing robots.

Global professional services company Accenture is acquiring Pollux, a Joinville, Brazil-based provider of industrial robotics and automation solutions. Accenture said the acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, will expand its capabilities for clients in consumer goods, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This is Accenture’s first acquisition…

This is the second LiDAR startup Aurora acquired in less than two years. In May 2019, Aurora acquired Montana-based Blackmore.

Berkshire Grey, a developer of integrated artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, and logistics, is going public through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp (RAAC). The deal values the combined company at $2.7 billion. Berkshire Grey said it will have approximately $507 million in cash when…

Verizon is continuing to expand its role in the robotics industry. Verizon is acquiring incubed IT, an Austria-based startup that develops autonomous navigation and fleet management software for autonomous mobile robots (AMR). Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of the year, were not disclosed. Founded in 2011, incubed…

DoorDash, the popular food delivery service, is acquiring Chowbotics, a Calif.-based robotics startup best known for Sally, a vending machine-like robot that can make salads and other fresh meals. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The move indicates DoorDash is interested in automating food production. According to The Wall Street Journal, which was first…

EndoWays, an Israeli developer of a disposable robotic system for the cathlab, has been acquired by Ascendum Capital, a healthcare-focused investment platform founded in 2020. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. EndoWays, founded in 2018, developed a fully disposable robotic system to support navigation and operation within blood vessels in neurovascular, peripheral and…

With this acquisition, Leadec expands its portfolio into parcel automation and strengthens its existing operations in North America.

Stryker said OrthoSensor’s Verasense intraoperative sensor technology will further boost Mako surgical robots, enhancing workflow through one complete data-driven feedback mechanism.

Both companies make cameras, sensor systems and unmanned systems, among other products, but there is not much overlap.